‘BJP not prepared for polls in J&K’
Gopal Sharma
RAJOURI, June 10: Alleging that BJP is not prepared for elections in Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah today hinted at his party staying away from the ‘Grand Alliance’ against BJP in next year’s Lok Sabha elections, claiming that most of such parties remained silent on abrogation of Article 370.
Omar said the talks on a pre-poll alliance would be premature before the sounding of bugle for the Assembly elections here.
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“What we have to contribute outside Jammu and Kashmir? We have a total of five Lok Sabha seats and what storm these seats can create? We have to fight against the BJP on these seats and what is going outside J&K is a secondary question,” Omar said while talking to media-persons in district Rajouri today.
Omar was responding to a question on the possibility of the National Conference joining hands with other parties against the BJP in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“I do not see any benefit from such an alliance for the party and in Jammu and Kashmir. I am repeatedly saying that when they need us, they knock on our doors. When Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is in trouble, he needs our support but where were these leaders in 2019 when we faced a big deceit,” he said, referring to the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh by the Central Government.
“Who among them stood with the people of Jammu and Kashmir? Where were those who are raising hue and cry today for safeguarding the Constitution and democracy when we faced the murder of democracy?” Omar asked.
They did not speak against it and the fact of the matter is that they supported the move in Parliament,” the former J&K Chief Minister said.
However, there are only four parties- DMK, Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and two Left parties – which always stood with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference leader added.
“Leave these parties aside, show me someone among other parties who whole-heartedly supported us. We will fight against the BJP on our five seats, let them do whatever they want,” Omar asserted.
On the possibility of a pre-poll alliance ahead of Assembly elections in J&K, the NC vice president said it is premature to say anything on it now as elections are nowhere visible.
“Let the election bugle be sounded, we will sit together to take a final call on this. The opinion or decision of one person is not acceptable, all the leaders of the party (NC) will discuss the issue, weigh its pros and cons and reach a consensus,” Omar maintained.
Former Chief Minister said he is tired of answering questions about the delay in holding of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. “It is evident that the BJP is not prepared and had it been ready, elections would have taken place here,” Omar claimed.
“The Election Commissioner had himself said that after getting green signal from the Home Ministry on the (security) situation, they can announce the poll dates. Maybe they have not got the information so far, which is not understandable,” he said, adding that the Chief Election Commissioner admitted that there is a vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir. “Why is it not being filled up? Who will have to do it?” Omar asked.
Omar, who reached Rajouri via Mughal Road to express condolences to the family of a party colleague who breathed his last in Nowshera sometime back, said the efforts of the administration should be to minimize the sufferings of the public and control growing militancy in the region.
“Unfortunately, there is a wedge between the administration and the people under the Governor rule. An elected Government is always better than a nominated Government,” he said. “People suffer because the administration is least bothered whether their issues are addressed or not,” the NC leader alleged.
Replying to a question on commuters facing inconvenience due to long queues at security check points on the Mughal Road, Omar said the recent terror incidents in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch indicate growing militancy in the region. “If the commuters are facing difficulty, it is proof that the administration has failed and the security situation has worsened instead of improving.
The people are facing problems which were not there before,” Omar added.
On BJP’s claim of unprecedented development in Jammu and Kashmir during the past nine years of Modi Government, the NC leader said everything will be known once the elections are held. After brief stay at Nowshera and Rajouri Dak Bungalow, Omar left for Srinagar via Mughal Road this afternoon.
Provincial president of the party for Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta, Zonal president for Pir Panjal Javed Rana, former MLA Poonch Ajaz Jan, DDC Chairman Rajouri Naseem Liaqat, senior leaders Vijay Lochan, Abdul Gani Teli, Pardeep Bali, Yashuvardan Singh and Shafayat Khan (district president) accompanied Omar Abdullah.
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